They said I couldn't score goals – Ibrahimovic hits back at early critics

Dejan Kalinic

They said I couldn't score goals – Ibrahimovic hits back at early critics image

Zlatan Ibrahimovic hit back at critics who suggested he was unable to score goals early in his career, pointing to his haul of 500.

The Swedish striker brought up the milestone with an acrobatic effort during LA Galaxy's loss to Toronto in MLS on Saturday.

The spectacular effort was the 500th goal of Ibrahimovic's professional career, during which he has starred at clubs including Paris Saint-Germain, Inter, Barcelona and Manchester United.

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Ibrahimovic, 36, recalled critics questioning whether he was able to score goals early in his career, saying he had proved them wrong.

"I had a chance to play with all the big clubs I played with and all the big players and still produce the goals I did," he told reporters. 

"The most fun is, when I started my career they said this player is good but he's not able to score goals, but this goes for all of them also.

"Apparently I know how to score goals. I reached 500 - that is a crazy number for playing soccer."

In typical Ibrahimovic fashion, the superstar said only he was capable of scoring goals like the one he managed against Toronto.

He said: "The last goal cannot happen again. Only I can score a goal like that."

Ibrahimovic will look to keep adding to his total on Sunday when the Galaxy face the Seattle Sounders, who currently are six points ahead of LA for the final playoff spot in the Western Conference.

Dejan Kalinic